Superior Falls is a gravity dam located in Iron County, Wisconsin, built in 1935. It carries a Low hazard potential classification.
Dam profile
NID height · 138 ft138 ft tall and 240 ft long, taller than 99% of U.S. dams with a recorded height. Height is drawn to scale against a ten-story building, about 100 ft; the profile is a generic concrete gravity section and the water level is illustrative.
About Superior Falls
The primary purpose of Superior Falls is hydroelectric. The dam generates hydroelectric power by channeling water through turbines, converting the energy of flowing water into electricity. The dam is owned by Xcel Energy (private). It impounds the Montreal.
The dam stands 138 feet tall and stretches 240 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 21 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 160 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 280 square miles. Completed in 1935, the structure is well-established, with more than 75 years of service.
This dam has a low hazard potential classification, meaning that failure would cause minimal damage, limited primarily to the dam owner's property, with no expected loss of life. An emergency action plan is in place for this dam.
At 138 feet, this dam is taller than 99% of all dams in the United States.
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Location
| State | Wisconsin |
| County | Iron |
| Nearest City | None |
| River/Stream | Montreal |
| Coordinates | 46.55975, -90.41492 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Gravity |
| NID Height | 138 ft |
| Dam Height | 28 ft |
| Dam Length | 240 ft |
| Year Completed | 1935 (91 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 160 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 160 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 100 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 21 acres |
| Drainage Area | 280 sq mi |
| Max Discharge | 17,000 cfs |
| Spillway Type | Controlled |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Hydroelectric |
| Owner | Xcel Energy |
| Owner Type | Private |
| Hazard Classification | Low |
| Condition Assessment | Not assessed |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | WI05000 |
| Federal ID | WI05000 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |